Puerto Rico

Amnesty International publishes State of the World’s Human Rights report for 2017 to 2018
“Last year our world was immersed in crises, with prominent leaders offering us a nightmarish vision of a society blinded by hatred and fear. This emboldened those who promote bigotry, but it inspired far more people to campaign for a more hopeful future,” says Salil Shetty, head of Amnesty International

The world is reaping the terrifying consequences of hate-filled rhetoric that threatens to normalize massive discrimination against marginalized groups, Amnesty International warned today as it launched its annual assessment of human rights.

Nevertheless, the organization found that a growing movement of both first-time and seasoned activists campaigning for social justice provides real hope of reversing the slide towards oppression.

The report, The State of the World’s Human Rights, covers 159 countries and delivers the most comprehensive analysis of the state of human rights in the world today.

Puerto Rico’s lawmakers have a historic opportunity to end discrimination against the island’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people with a pair of bills due for debate this week, Amnesty International said today.

"The approval of these two laws would be a big step for justice and equality for an important sector of Puerto Rico’s population, which to date has fallen victim to institutionalized discrimination," said Pedro Santiago, director of Amnesty International Puerto Rico.

In January 2013, Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives and Senate agreed to discuss the two bills aimed at better protection of LGBTI rights.

Senate Bill 238 would ban discrimination based on real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity in employment as well as in public and private services.

Its partner legislation, House of Representatives Bill 488, seeks to extend existing domestic violence protections to any person regardless of their marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity.